The 2024 Bonvoyed Awards | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep286 | 12-20-24

12/20/24 • 96 min

Today we'll take a look back at the year and talk about what loyalty programs have done to us instead of for us. This is for the loyalty grinches!

(01:07) - Revisiting a question we'd answered previously about whether or not several domestic flights a month would be enough for earning status.

(06:18) - One reader has some information to share about the Atlantis property they booked now (before their Caesar's Diamond status disappears) for a stay in the future...

(10:12) - Flying Blue: Sends emails saying "Congratulations you are now a Flying Blue Ultimate member"

(11:44) - IHG: Purchase EQPs. 120K price: $640, no... $800, no... $1000, back to $640...

(16:27) - Nick flies to Mexico but doesn't leave the airport

(21:12) - Greg and Nick forgot about Bilt

Find our podcast episode about the upcoming Alaska Premium card here.

(23:42) - Preferred Hotels: Greg's ongoing Preferred Hotel booking saga

(29:48) - AA: Can now use miles to book Hawaiian flights from mainland US

(31:39) - Aviator Silver companion cert ain't all that

Read our Aviator Silver companion cert first impressions here.

(38:14) - Hilton Aspire resort credit-eligible hotel list un-shrinks

(39:40) - Marriott Upgrade Awards now clear five days out (again)

(43:27) - Southwest: assigned seating

Read about Southwest's upcoming assigned seating here.

(46:31) - 2023 Bonvoyed Awards Recap...

2024 Dis-Loyalty Nominees...

(51:38) - Chase & Capital One priority pass drops restaurants

(55:56) - Virgin goes dynamic

(59:08) - Virgin devalues Delta One to Europe

(1:02:36) - Wyndham Vacasa devaluation

(1:06:19) - BA & Qatar raise prices for short-haul partner awards (AA, Alaska)

(1:09:54) - Etihad nerfs award cancelations and point expirations

(1:15:43) - Bilt reduces Rent Day earnings to 1K bonus points

(1:18:50) - Wyndham Biz kills free cruises

(1:21:20) - Hyatt integrates Mr & Mrs Smith

(1:23:14) - Final picks

(1:30:20) - Why are there so many pop-up ads on your site?

Today we'll take a look back at the year and talk about what loyalty programs have done to us instead of for us. This is for the loyalty grinches!

(01:07) - Revisiting a question we'd answered previously about whether or not several domestic flights a month would be enough for earning status.

(06:18) - One reader has some information to share about the Atlantis property they booked now (before their Caesar's Diamond status disappears) for a stay in the future...

(10:12) - Flying Blue: Sends emails saying "Congratulations you are now a Flying Blue Ultimate member"

(11:44) - IHG: Purchase EQPs. 120K price: $640, no... $800, no... $1000, back to $640...

(16:27) - Nick flies to Mexico but doesn't leave the airport

(21:12) - Greg and Nick forgot about Bilt

Find our podcast episode about the upcoming Alaska Premium card here.

(23:42) - Preferred Hotels: Greg's ongoing Preferred Hotel booking saga

(29:48) - AA: Can now use miles to book Hawaiian flights from mainland US

(31:39) - Aviator Silver companion cert ain't all that

Read our Aviator Silver companion cert first impressions here.

(38:14) - Hilton Aspire resort credit-eligible hotel list un-shrinks

(39:40) - Marriott Upgrade Awards now clear five days out (again)

(43:27) - Southwest: assigned seating

Read about Southwest's upcoming assigned seating here.

(46:31) - 2023 Bonvoyed Awards Recap...

2024 Dis-Loyalty Nominees...

(51:38) - Chase & Capital One priority pass drops restaurants

(55:56) - Virgin goes dynamic

(59:08) - Virgin devalues Delta One to Europe

(1:02:36) - Wyndham Vacasa devaluation

(1:06:19) - BA & Qatar raise prices for short-haul partner awards (AA, Alaska)

(1:09:54) - Etihad nerfs award cancelations and point expirations

(1:15:43) - Bilt reduces Rent Day earnings to 1K bonus points

(1:18:50) - Wyndham Biz kills free cruises

(1:21:20) - Hyatt integrates Mr & Mrs Smith

(1:23:14) - Final picks

(1:30:20) - Why are there so many pop-up ads on your site?

Previous Episode

Up to 4% Back Everywhere: US Bank's Smartly Card | Card Talk Ep10 | 12-19-24

Us Bank's Smartly Visa Signature card has no annual fee but also no welcome bonus. Even so, because of a benefit from their savings account which can increase earnings on the card, it's worth a discussion on today's Card Talk episode.

(00:21) - What are the basics of the U.S. Bank SmartlyTM Visa Signature® Card

Learn more about this card here.

(01:06) - You can increase earning with a U.S. Bank Smartly Savings account and have certain amounts deposited w/ US Bank...

(02:53) - You'll need a Smartly Savings Account

(04:13) - But you can point your money toward Self Directed Investing

(08:03) - Be careful how you redeem rewards

(10:08) - How does the US Bank Smartly Card compare to Bank of America's Platinum Honors?

Next Episode

Alaska / Hawaiian credit card strategy - which card should you get now? | Coffee Break Ep38 | 12-24-24 | Podcast

In today's episode, we're going to be considering the Alaska / Hawaiian credit card strategy and asking the question: which card should you get now, if any?

(01:38) - Current lineup of Alaksa / Hawaiian credit cards

(02:17) - Learn more about the Bank of America Alaska Consumer card here: https://frequentmiler.com/AS/

(02:34) - ...and the Bank of America Alaska Business card here: https://frequentmiler.com/ASbiz/

(02:46) - Learn more about the Barclays Hawaiian Consumer card here: https://frequentmiler.com/HA/

(03:15) - ...and the Barclays Hawaiian Business card here: https://frequentmiler.com/HAbiz/

(04:35) - Considering Hawaiian cards

(06:02) - Considering Alaska cards

(07:40) - What's the best strategy?

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Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads